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10.29.2013

The quirky Treasure Island Flea market opens up the last weekend of
every month on Treasure Island. It’s an eclectic mix of hipsters, local entrepreneurs
and traditional flea market finds. Most of the displays/booths are so well done,
you’ll feel like you are at an upscale street fair or high-end pop up market rather than
a traditional flea market. The event features live music and some of the Bay
Area’s Best food trucks. No fear, drinks are near, they have a roving drink
cart with mixed drinks available…yes, I’m talking Bloody Marys, Mimosas and a
variety of concoctions available while you peruse and find your treasures. It’s
a perfect way to spend your Saturday soaking up some sun whether you’re single,
have a sweetie, hanging with friends or with the family.

Traditionally I look for unique used goods or antiques at
flea markets but on my last visit to the market I fell in love with several of
the local business vendors. Here are a few of my favorites, check them out;

This collection of witty named teas will attract you with its
slick packaging but it doesn’t stop there, the teas are tasty too. Try the Hipsters in Wonderland, Sexpot and Bad Bromance...there are plenty of other blends to choose from too.

They take the leftover products from brewing beer and use
the healthy ingredients to create snack food, think bars and granola. How’s
that for efficiency?

Now go, it's your turn. Let me know what treasures you find!

Click here to see upcoming dates and events for Treasure
Island Flea. Note events have free parking and are dog friendly. Also It gets windy and cold, especially now that we are in the
winter months. Layer up with jackets, warm socks and beanies.

Like this market…but
wait there’s more!

The same group just launched the Jack of all Trades Market
at Jack London Square in Oakland, which is held every second Saturday of the month.

10.01.2013

I love Venice. When I talk to most people they either love
it or hate it. Those who hate it rattle on about the high prices, crowds and
heat. To a certain
extent they are right. The main attractions, St. Mark’s Basilica and the Doges Palace, had a steady line of at least 100 people when I visited in September. The soaring mid-day temperatures
and crowds sent me steering clear of all the packed alleys, streets and tourist
sites. Of course I wanted to see the sites, they are spectacular, but what I realized is that the true romance and beauty of Venice is found when you simply wander
the city and get lost.

No city map seems to be exact or to scale. Streets are
alleys with hidden twists, turns and dead ends. It’s an open labyrinth that’s
big enough to get lost in but small enough to always find your way back. The labyrinth of Venice has endless bars and eateries offering one of a kind wines, prosecco, and small bites of delectable food around every corner. The city's unique romance and magic truly comes alive when you are wandering. I'm not suggesting that you skip the famous sites, but be sure to plan on spending a day just getting lost.

A few recommendations for getting lost:

Bring a map –
it’s always nice to be able to find your way back when you truly have no idea
where you are. I consider myself good with directions and Venice had me all
turned around. It’s fun but you’ll need a map to reference when you want to get
back home.

Bring your Camera
– the beauty of Venice is more apparent then ever in the quiet alleys and
waterways. Bright colors and aged walls, it’s a photographers heaven.

Wear comfortable
shoes - I know, you are in Italy and everyone around you is in designer
heels and boots. It’s tempting to join in, but trust me if you are going to put
in three to six hours of exploring this city, wear your tennis shoes. Save the
heels for dinner.

Know anyone visiting Venice soon? Please feel free to share this article with them. Here are a series of photos from my time getting lost in
Venice.

9.27.2013

I arrived home from my trip to find that the Dhalia I planted in March had finally bloomed! I swear I checked the plant every week to see if it had bloomed and the moment I'm out of town, voila, there it is, just like magic.

Every time I return home from a trip I consider it a new beginning, just like the new year. I have a fresh perspective on the world and home, so it's a great time to make changes and see my life in a new light. Judging by this gorgeous bloom of my favorite flower, I think it's a sign that the next chapter in my life is going to be a bright and beautiful one. I'm excited!

9.25.2013

Mostar is a lovely city with a rich and turbulent history. I was excited to be visiting for the first time and for the opportunity to get a better understanding of the region and meet the people that live there. Prior to visiting, the only thing I knew about Bosnia Herzegovina was through media reports and images I saw during the war.

I had a wonderful time, the trip opened my eyes and heart to the region. I met wonderful people and heard powerful first person accounts of love, life, war and survival. I visited while on a road trip through Croatia. Here are some suggestions if you are planning to visit the city

If you are visiting from Croatia, rent a car and drive to Mostar. I’ll be honest from what I had read about Bosnia Herzegovina
we were somewhat cautious and a little bit concerned about driving in the
country. Once we arrived I felt like our concerns were a misconception. The
roads were fine and it was nice to have the freedom and flexibility of having
our own car. Many day tours are offered from Split and Dubrovnik but it’s a long and twisty trip for a bus tour. It was an interesting
drive and the border crossings were easy. If you are staying overnight make sure secured parking is available.

Hire a tour guide
so you can get a more detailed and local view of the cities rich history. Private
car tours are available for a broader experience or you can arrange for a
walking tour. We booked our walking tour through Fortuna Tours and they were
wonderful.

Mostar Old Town

Stay overnight so
you can enjoy the city as it truly is, not just the tourist aspect during the
day. There are plenty of day trips offered here but in my opinion it’s a long
way to come just for a day. I'd recommend staying at least one night. The Old Town can easily be seen in one day but if you stay overnight you can enjoy the surrounding area to see how people are living
every day in the city.

The evening we stayed, we came across Mostar's Summerfest, a summer concert series. We could see the
lights and hear the music from our hotel, so we met up with a fellow tourist and
simply followed the lights. We had a blast, mingling with the young locals of Mostar and watching The Beat Fleet a popular reggae and experimental Croatian band for
around 10 Euro a person.

Where to stay

We had a lovely stay at Villa Fortuna a Bed & Breakfast and a travel agency. The rooms were clean, spacious, pleasantly decorated and well priced. Above all the best part was the simple touch of good service.
It’s a quaint spot where you will feel right at home and within easy walking
distance to the Old Town. They have a lovely courtyard where you can
enjoy a local glass of wine or beer after a day of sightseeing. In addition they have a secure parking area.

What to Eat

Cevapcici is the local tourist thing to try. It's a grilled meat dish often served with flatbread, chopped onions and ajvar, a roasted red pepper sauce. There is an overwhelming number of places that offer the dish so ask your guide which place they recommend or go with your gut and try a place on your own.

Sit down and enjoy a Turkish coffee from one of the cafes.

Other Thoughts

No regrets but looking back if I could have adjusted my
itinerary I would have scheduled a few days to go to Sarajevo.

9.02.2013

I am anxious,
nervous and excited. It reminds me of a wedding. No matter how much you do to
prepare, the closer it gets you just start to let some things go and time seems
to move faster. You wait and wait for months and then the day or two before you
are so busy you can’t have enough hours in the day. Then you are at the airport,
not even sure how you got there because time has moved so quickly, your journey
has begun. It’s scary, but it feels good. I have to remind myself to enjoy the excitement,
that’s the rush I look for when things feel stagnant. It’s funny how I fear the
feeling that I crave so much. That thrill and excitement for life is one of the
reasons travel is so wonderful, it’s the feeling of freedom.

7.10.2013

Tickets are booked, passports are secured, you are ready for your first international trip. If you are making the plans on your own and not through a tour or travel agent, there are a lot of pieces to pull together to make the trip as smooth as possible. Below are a few things to consider and to help you prepare for your adventure.

1.Re-think
backpacking, it’s an easier way to carry your gear if you’ll be taking public
transportation and covering a lot of ground

Taking a backpack doesn’t mean you need to be hiking the
Andes or staying strictly in hostels. I made the mistake of bringing my Tommy
Hilfiger rolling luggage to Italy on a trip where I was moving a lot from city
to city; the cobblestones and stairs didn’t treat the luggage wheels so well.

2. Be
prepared for the fact that you will never be fully prepared

This is where the thrill comes in. Do your best to prepare
and then just let go and enjoy the ride.

3. Expect the
unexpected

Don’t let your tail feathers get ruffled easily. If
something isn’t like home, let it be interesting, not annoying. It’s the reason
you are traveling, to see what is different about the world. Need I say more?

4. Know your self and
plan accordingly

When I arrive at a destination to kick off a trip, I like to
rest for a day. I often get so excited I push myself to explore and that’s when I get run down and
catch a cold or get sick. Now I always plan to spend my first day resting, it's a great way for me
to start a trip on the right foot.

I had a coworker who once told me she would only travel to
places that had her favorite vodka and wine accessible. On one hand I applaud
her for knowing herself, on the other hand I can't help but think about all the wonderful new experiences she will miss out on in life with such limited thinking. You have to be open to try new experiences, have a positive attitude and expect that things will be different to enjoy your travel experience.

6. Choose a travel
partner wisely

Traveling with someone is different then just hanging out at
a barbecue with him or her. It can be challenging to find the right person to
travel with. Sometimes it’s the person who complements you in a unique way, for
instance, they love to plan things so they can take on the planning role while
you relax or vice versa. If you don’t think you can find a good travel partner, read my
article on why you should travel solo.

7. Socialize

The biggest mistake I made the first time I traveled abroad
was not opening up to others. I was nervous, I didn’t speak the language and I
felt isolated. It takes courage to not only learn new phrases but to also speak up and practice a foreign language by interacting with others. You have to be willing to make a fool of yourself, not an easy
task for some of us. You have to challenge yourself. Learn some phrases and tell
yourself no matter how nervous you are, you will walk into the shop/restaurant
etc. and communicate with someone. Trust me, most of the time people will
appreciate it and open up to you. If not, it’s no sweat off your back, just move
on to someone else, don’t take it personally. Communicating with others will
make you feel connected and ensure that you don’t unnecessarily isolate
yourself and block out wonderful new experiences.

8. Plan/book in advance with the opportunity to change your plans if necessary

I always thought it would be more spontaneous and exciting to decide where you are going on a whim. The truth is I find it a little
exhausting. The need to constantly make new decisions gets in the way of enjoying
myself. Now that I know this about me, I like to plan with flexibility. I book
most of my lodging in advance, with the ability to cancel/change plans in case something else comes up. I enjoy always having a place to
go with the ability to still be spontaneous and change plans if needed.

9. Make sure to plan down time

When I look at a map, I tend to go a little crazy, I want to see
every place possible. By the end of my initial planning, I’ve created
a non-stop exhausting itinerary that is above and beyond my normal capacity for
enjoyment. I’ve had to learn to edit myself and pull back. For some of you, if
you like being on go constantly; by all means go for it. What I’ve learned
about myself is that I am a better person when I take it a little slower. I
always stay somewhere at least two nights (unless it really just warrants a one
night stay) so I have time to look at sites and down time, not just running
from place to place. In those moments of down time I often experience the most
rewarding moments of the trip.

10. It’s okay to be a
tourist

Ok, I hate to break the news to you but you are a tourist. I
hear so much about going off the beaten path, not doing tourist things, I
believe there really is value to both. In the past I often refused to go with
tour groups or go on any tours. When I got pulled into a walking tour of Berlin
I was not very thrilled at the thought of hours stuck with a guide rambling on
while I wanted to explore. I was completely wrong. Not only was the walking
tour entertaining and educational but it gave me the full lay of the land in
the city and saved me an enormous amount of time when I was left to explore on my own.
After the tour I was able to roam freely off the beaten path. I learned way
more then I ever could have. Don’t be ashamed that you don’t know the ins and
outs of a city, how can you, you’ve never been there before.

11. Get the museum audio
guide or tour

Visiting the Louvre in Paris, France without any guidance was like…so
overwhelming. My two years of Art History in college were not enough to prepare me for freely wandering a huge museum and understanding and appreciating what I was seeing. I had no idea what I was
looking at most of the time and was completely overwhelmed. We shuffled through the museum in a
zombie like crowd to stare at the Mona Lisa surrounded by 100 people. I
remember being in awe of everything but it was just too much to look at and take in without any guidance. It's very helpful to have the highlights and details explained to you in a personal or audio tour the first time you visit a museum. Save the wandering for a future trip.

12. Have fun

What are some travel tips you have? Please feel
free to share this with anyone you know who may find it useful. Cheers!

6.24.2013

The sky was filling with different rainbows when I took this picture, sometimes the color was strong, sometimes faint and you could see additional rainbows popping up, three or four at a time. They didn't last long but it was so neat to watch the sky and horizon change so quickly with color. I've been in a bit of a bummer mood lately so it was a great reminder that there are amazing things going on all around you, sometimes you just need to pay attention or look for them to notice it.

Yesterday we had strange summer weather in Northern California, warm humid rain. It produced an amazing sunset with brightly lit clouds, creating a new canvas in the sky every minute along my two hour road trip home. I couldn't stop snapping pictures, I got a little carried away. But hey what's wrong with taking the time to notice the beauty around you? It was like a live show just for me. Here are some of my favorites...

6.14.2013

Kelsey Creek Brewing in Kelseyville, CA is a great stop for a hot day. We just happened to be driving through when it was 102 F. I tried the New Blonde on the Block...it was a little hoppy for me but I'll confess I'm not really a beer drinker, so I don't know what I'm talking about. I can tell you the the beer was ice cold and was great in the moment, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

For me the real winner was the atmosphere, small town, casual, laid back. I loved it. The only food they serve is popcorn and peanuts but it works. I believe you can bring your own food in as well. It's a great addition to Kelseyville where normally I wine taste. I will definitely stop back in on my next getaway to Lake County.

We also stopped in at Main Street Bakery across the street looking for french bread. They were sold out which is a bummer because their french bread looks amazing and fresh baked french bread from a bakery is one of my favorite things on earth. We did grab some cookies, chocolate chip and snicker doodles along with a fresh baked zucchini bread. All of it was super tasty and I don't say that lightly...with the exception of french bread I rarely buy baked goods at a bakery. Nothing beats home made cookies in my opinion but I was spoiled by my loving Grandma who made the best cookies ever.

6.11.2013

I love making salads, they’re refreshing, taste good and
mostly good for you. What could be
better as we approach summer? The secret
to a good salad is a variety of textures along with complementary flavors, so
have fun. When I’m tired or feeling lazy I don’t like to make salad dressing,
so I try to focus on making the ingredients work well with a simple drizzle of
oil and vinegar. This sweet and savory
salad comes together great and is super simple to make.

I’m not much into measurements when it comes to salad
(baking yes). I believe cooking is art;
you just have to let it flow. For salads
you just have to adjust ingredients based on how much you like to eat, what you
like to eat and how many you are serving.
I love my greens and when I make a personal salad I start with 1-2 cups
of greens depending on how hungry I am and go from there. I’ve put rough
estimates for an individual salad.

Simple Strawberry
Salad

Ingredients

Organic Baby Greens, 1-2 cups

Sliced raw almonds, ¼ cup

Sliced strawberries, 1-2 large

Diced cucumber, 1 small

A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

A drizzle of balsamic vinegar or balsamic reduction

A pinch of sea salt

Combine all ingredients, toss and serve.

Great additions to
this salad

Diced Avocado…I have an avocado obsession and put it in
everything

Goat Cheese

Spice it up…

Diced fresh Jalapeno

Chopped fresh cilantro

Change it up

The Strawberries can be replaced with raspberries,
blackberries or blueberries or combination of berries.

The almonds can be replaced with walnuts, pecans,
cashews…really any nut you like.